It found the five most landlord-friendly states to be:West VirginiaArkansasLouisianaNorth CarolinaAlabamaAnd, our governor just passed some serious anti-squatting legislation. 

I understand that an advantage of note ownership is that its typically viewed as a more passive investment (no 3am toilet phone calls) and that is what attracts me to this concept. 

So which has the less money going down the toilet?

One running toilet was found, but that wouldn't have caused such an increase on its own.  

I had to tell the tenants that they could not use the faucets/washers/toilets otherwise the sewage would back up onto the basement floor. 

So this guy broke in and is squatting.

If you go forward, make sure they handle all maintenance & repairs on the property too because these organizations typically have in-house staff..Snaking toilets, repairs, grass cut, snow removal, paint...Make sure you're covered with insurance as well. 

Because in reality, by not hiring a property manager, and committing to doing the easier things myself--like unclogging a toilet / shower drain, fixing a light bulb, pest control, calling a plumber--I am committing to be on standby for many hours, which is a sacrifice of peace of mind / being able to leave town or take vacations--and I would like to know if it's worth it. 

I also was told that tenants can come back and squat. 

Now for example, if there was a half-bathroom already there and you just want to put new shower tiles, toilet, vanity, etc. that's one thing (you could probably get away without doing a permit).